It's Mayor Vs. Mayor... This SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY

roanoke.com - Commentary Stories -Mayor's irrelevant issues are the people's business

Hey, this is cool. I like Mayor Harris, even though now he reminds me of "Evil Spock" on Star Trek. He seems like a nice, fairly smart, decent kinda guy. Now, of course I don't know much about Fmr. Hizzoner Bowers, although I haven't heard much complaining about most of Roanoke's past leaders. Maybe just me. Maybe just the folks Ive been around, but no one has expressed to me the kind of general hatred and visible signs of destruction a place gets when it has a truly bad mayor. Take, for example, The Honorable David Dinkins.

From Wikipedia: " Dinkins' term was marked by polarizing events including the 1991 Crown Heights riots and the boycott of Korean groceries... In 1991, he signed a law which made it illegal for companies in New York to do business with companies in Ireland that discriminated against Catholics. "

Now thats a legacy. Now I met Hizzoner Dinkins once, and he's not a personally bad guy, but he was not up to tackling NYC. Very few people are really.

But it seems that Roanoke has been fairly lucky in its choices for mayor, none have left a true scar on the city. And no, I will not blame Mayor Harris for the AMWV, that was just bad all around. Its like playing spin the bottle with the finger of blame, it can rest anywhere - and be equally true.

Part of me wonders if this all has to do with the new beard Mayor Harris has grown, maybe he travelled to an alternate dimension or something.

While I do not disagree with Mayor Harris sentiment that business should be more vocal in city politics, I think that should be expanded. Everyone should be more vocal. I've noticed Roanoke seems to think theres something wrong with it, and it needs to be fixed, but no one knows what it is. Well, if you think you know, step up and say something. I believe the land selection for the AMWV should have been a public matter, as it was public land being handed over as well as being used for a public use. Yes, the AMWV is a private concern, but it is for public benifit, making it public space.

As would be any new store that opened in the old Heironymous building, or a new parking garage downtown. Part of the consternation about Victory Stadium is that it has not been put to a vote. Allow it on the ballot in the November elections, choose 4-5 options, and let the people choose. This way, they have only themselves to blame.
And let businesses do what they do, create. Create jobs, create income, producs, etc. etc.

And yes, I do think the Victory Stadium debate is rediculous. While I understand the tactical advantage a visiting team would feel looking down the field, up the mountain, and seeing the star - surely a dominating view. I say tear it down, and rebuild. If you want to do it in the same spot - be prepared to raise the ground up past flood levels, and be prepared to pay more in taxes for that. You heard me, pay more for what you want.

It's not terribly hard to reach accord on issues like this, you just have to find out what the public wants, realize your not going to make everyone happy, and move on from there. But you cannot rely on a poll, or even a council meeting for that, you don't get a representative slice of opinion for that, as odds are your going to wind up with opinions running one way, especially at a council meeting.

Anyway Roanoke, forget the WSLS & Roanoke Times polls - start calling for a referendum. Petition for a more open government, where you have more say. This way you can stop complaining when things don't go your particular way.

Thats my dos centavos.
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